Beef is Halal for Muslims and no force on earth can stop us from cow-slaughter: Geelani 

'Sacrifice animals on Eid according to true Islamic spirit'

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz 

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SRINAGAR, Sep 23: Even as many of the BJP leaders and senior government officials were heard claiming in Jammu on Wednesday that the Hurriyat hardliner had been "tamed" and that he would appeal Muslims not to sacrifice bovine animals on Eid-ul-Azha, Syed Ali Shah Geelani asserted that beef was Halal for Muslims and no force on earth could stop them from the practice of cow-slaughter.

Those celebrating Geelani's statement and claiming that it would defuse a potential crisis include Jammu's Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal and several Deputy Commissioners. Sources said that many of the DCs and SSPs heaved a sigh of relief over whispers that Geelani had agreed to appeal Muslims not to sacrifice cows on the festival.

However, when Geelani's much speculated statement came out, separatrly from his organisation Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and his faction of the Hurriyat Conference, it contained nothing of what the BJP leaders and government officials had spread through their whispers and telephonic conversations.

"Allah has made beef Halal for us and no force on earth can make it proscribed for us or stop us from its consumption", Geelani said in the statement issued in Urdu. He, however, advised Muslims that the sacrifice of animals must be only to pratice a Sunnat and in no way aimed at hurting the sentiments of the followers of any religion.

"This (sacrifice of animals) is our religious dogma which we have been practicing since long and will continue to practice in future", Geelani added. He implored the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir to "adhere to decency and spirit of Sunnat" while making such sacrifices to please the Almighty.

"Geelani Sahab expressed his anguish and deep concern over the reports that the court's recent controversial order on stopping cow-slaughter has caused tension and vitiated the atmosphere in Jammu province. Some insane elements are attempting to foment communal tension and drive a wedge between Muslims and Hindus with their conspiracies", said the statement. Geelani, it added, made an appeal to the Hindus "to be aware of the machinations of Shiv Sena and other Sangh Parivar outfits" and maintain communal harmony and brotherhood at any cost.

"We don't do cow-slaughter for hostility (of the Hindus). Nor do we intend to hurt their sentiments. We do it for it is a religious obligation for us", Geelani asserted. "However, it should be strictly according to the religious prescription and in no way turned into a means to provoke others and hurt their sentiments", Geelani said while avoiding to be specific where the cow-slaughter should happen around this Eid or not.

END

Law Minister terminates engagement of two BJP-sponsored Govt advocates

◆Vishal sought reasons of his shifting to Education, RDD

◆Parimoksh refused to withdraw anti-beef PIL

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Sep 22: Law Minister Basharat Bukhari on Tuesday gave a major affront to PDP's coalition partner BJP by terminating services of Additional Advocate General (AAG) Vishal Sharma and Deputy Advocate General (DAG) Parimoksh Seth on account of their failure to toe his party's line on a petition against cow-slaughter in Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

After taking Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on board, Bukhari, according to sources, directed Law Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Mir to terminate the services of the two BJP-sponsored advocates. Law Secretary accordingly issued a Government Order.

While as Sharma, who had been allocated Home Department upon his engagement earlier this year, had been lately shifted to Education and Rural Development departments, Seth was designated as DAG in Jammu.

Highly placed government sources revealed to STATE TIMES that Bukhari had in the last two days attempted to take Dy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh into confidence, explaining to him "PDP's political compulsions" for disengagement of the two Jammu-based lawyers. However, talks between the two Ministers failed as Singh insisted that their termination would cause damage to BJP's credibility, influence and vote base in Jammu. Thereafter, Bukhari, on advice of the top PDP leadership issued direction for the two advocates' termination.

The termination order will definitely cause remarkable embarrassment to BJP as both the lawyers are well connected to the Sangh Parivar and are known to have been appointed on the recommendation of RSS earlier this year. Vishal Sharma happens to be the son of senior advocate Leela Karan Sharma, currently J&K State head of Vishwa Hindu Parushad. The elder Sharma was also head of Sagharsh Samiti that sponsored the turbulent Amarnath Land allotment agitation for about three months in 2008.

Parimoksh Seth is a senior leader of BJYM and son of senior BJP leader Onkar Seth. He is also known for his close association with Anurag Thakur, BJP youth leader, MP from Himachal Pradesh and a top functionary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Sources revealed to STATE TIMES that Vishal Sharma had addressed a letter through Advocate General to Law Secretary asking him to explain the reason of his shifting from Home to Education and RDD. Law Department had earlier this month shifted Sharma from Home as he had failed to represent the PDP-led government in a PIL seeking enforcement of the ban on cow-slaughter in Jammu and Kashmir. As the PIL went uncontested, a Division Bench directed Director General of Police to strictly enforce Section 298 A, B, C and D that makes anybody indulging in cow-slaughter liable for imprisonment of 10 years and fine.

Seth was the petitioner of the PIL which he had filed in 2014, months before his appointment as DAG. When, Law Department asked Seth to withdraw the PIL, he initially agreed but later refused to take the Law Department's diktat. A couple of days ago, he straightaway communicated to Law Secretary and Law Minister that he had been advised by BJP and particularly Deputy Chief Minister not to withdraw the PIL. 

"He said plainly that he had filed the PIL on the direction of his party high command and he could withdraw it only on the direction of the high command. Chief Minister and other PDP Ministers took exception to the two advocates' conduct. This led to termination of their service", said a senior bureaucrat.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

Police failure leads separatists to target govt over kid’s killing

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 21: Inability of the Police, both in striking on the proactive militants and cracking even a single mysterious killing by unidentified gunmen in Sopore and Baramulla districts this year, has led the separatists to blame "government agencies" for the barbaric assassination of a former militant and his three-year-old son in north Kashmir.

Some of the senior Police officials have asserted while responding to questions from media that the killers of Shabir Ahmad Bhat of Sagipora and his son Burhan were none other than militants. However, Police as well as security forces have avoided issuing a detailed statement and naming the group or the 'militants' they believed to be the assassins. Significantly, even the brother of the slain civilian has said that some people chased away the gunmen and captured one of them who was let off when his accomplice threw a grenade.

Sustained silence of Police and Army officers has apparently led many to believe that the assassins could be the government-sponsored guerrillas associated with Hizbul Mujahideen’s breakaway faction 'Lashkar-e-Islam'. "We admit it's our failure as we have failed even to tell the truth. People at large expect the government to be resourceful and knowledgeable about every single guerrilla killing. When we remain tightlipped, we make ourselves suspects in the eyes if the people", said a Police official wishing to remain anonymous.

"Had it been done or initially perceived to be done by Police, Army or the local counter-insurgents, whole of Sopore, Handwara and Baramulla would be gathered at Sagipora and started massive demonstrations. Skeletal attendance at the twin funeral is an indication that there are few takers of the separatists' narrative and the militants' accusations against security forces. But this can change as there's no response or formal explanation from the government", he added.

On the other hand, separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, albeit after a day’s silence, was the first who suggested that a number of civilians, including Sagipora's father-son duo, had been eliminated by what he called government-sponsored gunmen. He referred to the Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement that India would be within its right to use terrorists against the terrorists. In follow up to Geelani’s, coupled with Hizbul Mujahideen supremo Syed Salahuddin's statement, almost all the mainstream and separatist outfits and prominent leaders have condemned the brutal killing. On their call, Valley observed a protest shutdown on Sunday.

Salahuddin on Monday targeted media on running what he called "state-sponsored narrative" of the twin killing in Sagipora.

“Modi government is hell-bent upon reviving the SOG culture in the state. But we will not let their designs to succeed", Salahuddin said in a statement on Monday. He was critical of a section of media "for creating an impression that such killing were taking place as a result of factional war between Hibul Mujahideen and Laskari Islam". He warned that media should refrain from such “state-sponsored narrative” and added that there was no organisation by the title of Lashkar-e-Islam. “Indian agencies are actually using name of Lashkar-e-Islam to cover its nefarious activities,” he said.

The statement issued by Hizb spokesperson Saleem Hashmi quoted Salahuddin said that the “barbaric act of killing three-year-old Burhan is an aimed at tarnishing the image of Islam and the freedom fighters in Kashmir".

“Such killers cannot have any association with Islam or with Kashmir’s freedom movement,” he said.

The Hizb chief alleged that "Special Operation Group (SOG) of State Police and their paid agents" might be behind the killing. He said that Modi government wanted to revive the Ikhwan era in Kashmir and the spate of killings by so-called unidentified men was "part of this nefarious design of New Delhi".

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

7 mysterious killings in Baramulla district in 6 days

Hizb militant gunned down by unidentified assassins in Tangmarg

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz 

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SRINAGAR, Sep 19: With the death of a father-son duo in a shootout in Sopore, followed by the assassination of a prominent militant of Hizbul Mujahideen in Tangmarg, as many as seven mysterious killings have occurred in Baramulla district, in North Kashmir, in the last 6 days.

Residents of Devbugh, on Kunzar Hardushora road, sighted an unidentified human body in combat fatigue in paddy fields early in the morning on Saturday. Police sources said that seven to eight AK-47 shots were found to have been fired on the chest of the unidentified person who was later on identified as Hizbul Mujahideen’s militant Fayaz Ahmad Bhat of Vailoo, Pattan.

At Kunzar, on Srinagar-Gulmarg Road, some people gathered and attempted to enforce a protest shutdown while pelting stones on the traffic. Police swung into action and forced the crowds to disperse. After the body's post mortem, the slain militant was buried at his village, Vailoo. Reports said that 500 to 700 people participated in his funeral procession and prayers.

Senior Police officials, including IGP Kashmir Javed Mujtaba Geelani, maintained to media that Bhat had been kidnapped and killed in Hizbul Mujahideen's internecine fued by a rival group. Quite a large number of the people seemed to believe that the Hizbul Mujahideen militant Bhat had been killed in group rivalry.

Officials told STATE TIMES that Bhat was believed to have been captured and killed by a rebel group of Hizbul Mujahideen during last night at a different place. His body seemed to have been thrown subsequently at a different place. No arms or ammunition were recovered from Bhat's combat uniform. "There were some blood stains but no empties at the spot where the body had been dropped", said an eyewitness.

Contrary to the Police and Army claims, which insisted that Police or security forces did not clash with any militant during last night, nor was anyone ambushed and killed by them, Hizbul Mujahideen’s operational spokesperson Burhan-ud-Din maintained that Bhat had been killed by Police and security forces in an encounter. 

On September 14, three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were found killed in mysterious circumstances in Pattan area. After a day of silence, Hizbul Mujahideen claimed that all the three were its active members. It alleged that they had been killed by armed forces in custody. Next morning, ond more civilian was found dead in Kunzar area of Tangmarg.

On September 18th, unidentified assassins shot dead a former militant of Jamiatul Mujahideen, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, alongwith his 4-year-old son Burhan at Sagipora in Sopore-Handwara belt, raising the number of the mysteriously killed persons to six. With the Hizbul Mujahideen militant's assassination today, seven persons have been shot dead in almost identical situations in Baramulla district in the last 6 days.

Most of the mainstream and separatist leaders have severely condemned the killing of a civilian and his 4-year-old son at Sagipora. They include Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

In a statement, Geelani held government agencies responsible for all the seven mysterious killings including that of the former militant and his young son. He called for Kashmir shutdown in protest of these killings on Sunday. Geelani suggested that there was a link between this week's mysterious killings and the Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parikar's statemen in which he had said that India had a right to use terrorists against terrorists.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]

Ex-militant shot dead in Sopore, 5 militants killed in Gurez

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 18: Even as Army claimed to have killed at least five militants of a group of eight infiltrators in Gurez area of northern Kashmir on Friday, suspected militants shot dead a former militant of Jamiatul Mujahideen and left hus four-year-old son critically injured in Sagipora village in Sopore-Handwara belt.

Informed sources told STATE TIMES that two unidentified youths, suspected to be militants, slowed down their motorcycle and fired pistol shots on 37-year-old Bashir Ahmad Bhat s/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat while he was returning to his home from a shop at Sagipora, bordering Baramulla and Kupwara districts, on Sopore-Handwara road at around 7.00 p.m.

Bhat as well as his four-year-old son Burhan sustained critical injuries. Both were evacuated and rushed to Sub District Hospital of Sopore. However, Bhat succumbed to injuries before reaching the hospital. The child was referred to SKIMS Soura for specialised treatment. Doctors attending Burhan said that they performed a surgery but the child's condition was critical.

Officials described Bhat as a released militant of Jamiatul Mujahideen who had been working as small time contractor and had also a small fruit business. No militant group had claimed responsibility of his assassination till late on Friday night.

Residents said that the gunmen escaped but a hand grenadefell from their motorcycle which was later seized by Police.

Meanwhile, Defence Spokesman at headquarters 15 Corps of Army, Lt Col N.N. Joshi, said that troops intercepted a group of heavily armed infiltrators in Kanzalwan area of Gurez, close to the LoC, around midnight last. He claimed that five militants were killed by Friday evening even as search was still underway for other members of the group. An Army official said that it was an eight-member group of freshly launched infiltrators. Five AK-47 rifles are claimed to have been recovered from the site of operation.

Senior Police officials told STATE TIMES that five infiltrators were believed to have died in the gunbattle. However, bodies had not been recovered or handed over to Police till late on Friday night.

END

ISIS, Pak flags again at Srinagar Jamia Masjid

Dukhtaraan-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi arrested

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, Sep 18: Holding separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani under "house arrest" and detaining Dukhtaraan-e-Millat Chairperson Asiya Andrabi and General Secretary Fehmeeda Sofi in a previously registered FIR did not prevent a crowd from waving ISIS and Pakistan flags on occasion of the Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar.

Official sources said that Geelani was not allowed to move out of his Hyderpora residence as the authorities feared he could create some turbulence with his statements and actions ahead of the festival of Eid-ul-Azha. Police raided Ms Andrabi's residence in Soura area and arrested her, alongwith her organisation's second-in-command Fehmeeda Sofi, in an FIR registered against them earlier this year for hoisting Pakistani flag and singing Pakistan's national anthem.

Those booked in identical matters include Massarat Aalam who has been rearrested and Geelani who has not been arrested till date. The Dukhtaraan-e-Millat leaders were arrested for the first time on Friday since Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s taking over as Chief Minister on March 1st this year. Sources said that Andrabi and Sofi were lodged in Women's Police Station at Rambagh. Police were likely to obtain remand from a court for their detention and custodial interrogation.

Friday afternoon congregational prayers went on smoothly at Jamia Masjid. However, groups of youths shouted anti-India, pro-Pakistan and pro-Azadi slogans while the people were coming out of the mosque. They waved ISIS and Pakistani flags besides portraits of Jamiat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Sayeed, Jaish-e- Mohammad leader Maulana Masood Azhar and Hizbul Mujahideen's youth icon Burhan Wani.

Ding-dong clashes took place between the separatist demonstrators and Police at four places, including at Jamia Masjid, in downtown Srinagar.

Reports of similar ding-dong clashes came in from Anantnag township of South Kashmir.

END

SHO attached for 'kidnapping' Law Secretary to Police Station 

DGP ordered action after Law Minister Basharat Bukhari set two-hour deadline, threatened to shut office at Civil Secretariat

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Sep 17: SHO Shaheed Gunj was removed from his posting and attached to District Police Lines Srinagar on Thursday after Law Minister Syed Basharat Bukhari alleged that he had 'kidnapped' Law Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Mir from Civil Secretariat to Police Station and threatened to shut his own office if Police failed to take "necessary action" within a deadline of two hours.

Sources associated with the crisis management at Civil Secretariat revealed to STATE TIMES that a Traffic Policeman on duty outside the Civil Secretariat entrance stopped Law Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Mir's official car---a white colour Honda City----and signalled its driver to proceed towards Batmaloo, while preventing him from entering the Secretariat premises, at around 10.00 a.m. As the driver was pleading with the Constable that he was carrying an administrative Secretary to his office on usual duty, SHO Shaheed Gunj Inspector Nissar Ahmad Hurra rushed to the spot, dragged the driver out, snatched away his keys and whisked away the vehicle to Police Station.

Law Secretary resisted and asked why he was being waylaid but the SHO did not relent until he dropped him at Police Station Shaheed Gunj. The vehicle was seized and Mr Mir asked to go wherever he wanted to. He called a private vehicle which ferried him to his office. He brought the episode to the notice of Home Secretary and Law Minister Bukhari. The Minister took a strong notice and communicated to DGP K. Rajendra Kumar that he would shut his own office and call a press conference if the SHO was not shifted from the Civil Lines and attached within two hours.

Senior Police officials were initially disinclined to take any action or apologise to Law Secretary. However, when they learned that the Minister was going to file a complaint with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, they swung into action and rushed to the Civil Secretariat. Mr Bukhari made it clear to them that the matter could not be resolved with their apologies. He insisted that Police should remove the SHO from his posting and attach him immediately. Thereafter, on DGP's direction, SSP Srinagar Amit Kumar issued Order No: 2721 of 2015. Vide this order, Inspector Hurra was attached to DPL Srinagar and a departmental inquiry was ordered against him. Probationary Dy SP Zohaib Hassan was appointed as SHO Shaheed Gunj.

While Law Minister Bukhari's cellphone was switched off, Law Secretary Mir said: "Traffic constable was telling my driver that we couldn't enter Secretariat as CM's cavalcade was about to pass by the entrance. As the argument was going on between the Traffic cop and my driver, SHO came rushing, dragged my driver out, snatched away his keys and began driving my car towards Shaheed Gunj. His PSO with AK-47 also boarded. As I asked the SHO where he was taking me, he maintained that we would soon come to know about our destination. He dropped me at the Police Station, seized the vehicle and asked me to go wherever I wanted to. Thereafter I returned by a private vehicle".

Mr Mir told STATE TIMES that he met Home Secretary and Law Minister with his complaint. "Later, IGP Kashmir visited and apologised on behalf of Police. The crisis was resolved with the attachment of the SHO and an inquiry was ordered against him", Mr Mir said. He said that DGP too cajoled him on phone.

IGP Kashmir Javaid Mujtaba Gilani confirmed that Inspector Nissar Ahmad Hurra was attached to DPL Srinagar and a departmental inquiry was initiated against his conduct. He, nevertheless, refused to admit that the SHO had kidnapped the Law Secretary. "Chief Minister's cavalcade was about to pass. For security reasons, Police don't allow any vehicle to block its way. There was reportedly some argument and the car was driven off to the Police Station. We have attached the SHO and ordered an inquiry", IGP Kashmir told STATE TIMES.

END

[Published in today's STATE TIMES]